Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
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A/N: Thank you, thank you for the wonderful reviews! Please keep them coming! How's everyone? How's the situation in your country? Anyone from the US and Italy? Take care!
To answer a question from one of you, I think I will finish writing Sev and Mione's past first. I don't want to be confused with the events as well. We can always look back on their reunion, right? Thanks!
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Chapter 18:
September 1, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
For the first time since they started Hogwarts, Hermione and Severus shared a compartment with Alice Fawley and Frank Longbottom. Severus could tolerate her friends. Alice was a very nice person and easy to be liked. Frank Longbottom was studious and clever, just like Severus, and he disapproved of Potter and his gang's bullying, despite sharing a dormitory with them.
And it was amazing that students from four different houses were sharing a compartment because they were friends.
For most of the journey, she and Sev just read contentedly. Sev's hand smoothed her hair from time to time and she rested her head against his shoulder. Alice and Frank played Exploding Snap.
"Hermione, can you go with me to the loo?" asked Alice softly.
Hermione nodded. "Sure." Severus let go of her.
When the two girls reached the loo, Alice turned to her with a nervous look in her face.
"Frank asked me last week if we could go to Hogsmeade together... throughout the year. You know, just the two of us."
Hermione's eyes widened and she grinned. "Wow! So, what did you say?"
Alice blushed. "You know that I really like him, right? He's my close friend... and we've known each other since we were seven. So, I said yes."
Hermione squealed and pulled her friend to a hug. "I am so happy for you, Alice!"
"Thanks, Mione," she laughed. "What about you and Sev? Did he ask you out?"
Hermione's smile faltered. "We're just friends... And he warned me not to make plans for the two of us without consulting him. I guess he's planning on asking out someone else."
To her surprise, Alice rolled her eyes. "You're a Ravenclaw, Hermione and you're the brightest witch in our year. But sometimes you're daft."
"Hey!" she slapped her friend's arm rather playfully.
"Hermione 'whatever your middle name is' Puckle, can't you see? He likes you! He cares a lot about you and I bet you're the most important person in the world to him!"
"But we're best friends."
"Yes. Isn't it nice to fall in love with your best friend? Hermione, read between the lines, will you?"
She shook her head. "I don't want to get my hopes up. He hasn't said anything, so..."
Alice sighed. "Well, I hope Sev asks you out already."
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September 15, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
"Hey, Sev?"
Severus glanced at the boy plopped on the bed next to him. Antonin. "Hmm?" He returned his attention to the book he was reading about the healing properties of a Thestral's blood.
"Are you ever planning on asking Puckle out?"
Severus snapped his book shut and turned to the other boy with a scowl. "Why are you asking?"
Toyin shrugged. "Because if you're not, I'm going to ask her out. She's nice and clever."
Severus cocked an eyebrow. "You want to ask her out just because she's nice and clever? You can ask any Ravenclaw in our year."
"But she's very kind. I saw her tutor Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff first-years in the library the other night and I think she's amazing."
Severus smiled at the thought of his best friend. "She is amazing. And she's my favourite person in the world, so don't you dare ask her out."
Toyin rolled his eyes. "Fuck. All right, fine. Make it sooner or else, I'll change my mind."
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September 19, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
Hermione Puckle wasn't truly happy for a few reasons.
One, Slytherins were paired with Gryffindors this year in Potions and Transfiguration while Ravenclaws were with Hufflepuffs. Alice was her new Potions partner and she was really happy about it. But...
Two, Lily Evans turned into Severus's new partner in their favourite subject.
Three, Severus hadn't asked her to go to Hogsmeade together next weekend. Most of her female classmates already got invitations from wizards in their year. Alona and Amelia were already planning what they should wear, and so was Alice.
Four. She realized that she had feelings for Severus Snape, her best friend. She just could not explain the pang of hurt in her chest when he told her that he was partnered with Lily Evans in the Potions class.
And so on her fourteenth birthday, she didn't feel like getting up for the day. But Alona and Amelia dragged her out of the bed, telling her that Severus was already waiting outside their common room.
She sighed. I don't feel special anymore, she thought. He's been doing it for two years, so it must be a normal thing - to wait for your best friend every morning, carry her bag every day. Until one of you falls in love with someone else.
"Hermione, wear your pearl hairclips!" Alone called when she was already at the door.
Hermione lazily faced her friend. "It's just a normal day. It's not like he's going to ask me out, right?"
Alona gave her a sympathetic look and pulled her for a hug. "Oh, honey... Maybe today is the day?" she asked hopefully.
She shook her head. "Guess I'll just be his best friend."
Alona sighed. "No matter, you have to look beautiful. Not for him but yourself! Mum always says that she's trying her best to look good every day not for Dad but for herself. It adds confidence, you know."
Hermione smiled and nodded. Why would it matter too much if Severus doesn't like me back?
After ten minutes, she emerged from the Ravenclaw entrance.
"Oh, thank Merlin you're here! I've been waiting for an hour," groaned Severus.
Hermione did not say anything. She did not meet his eyes and did not look at the bouquet of white roses in his hand. She just stood there and waited.
Severus stepped forward and gently took her bag from her, and handed her the bouquet. "Happy birthday," he said softly. Hermione was greeted as well by Sev's sandalwood scent.
She forced a smile, stopped herself from inhaling his scent sharply, and accepted the roses. "Thanks." She did not bother to ask why he gave her roses, not sunflowers. His answer might not be what she was hoping for.
"Are you all right?" he asked, sounding very concerned.
"Aunt Flow visited," she lied before walking ahead of him. They usually walked hand-in-hand.
"Hermione..."
She scowled and looked back. "What?"
"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me next week? You know, just the two of us?"
And just like that, Hermione wasn't unhappy anymore.
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September 28, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
"Please, Evans... give me a chance. Just one date and I'll prove to you that we're perfect together."
Hermione groaned and stopped walking when she saw James Potter in the hallway near the Great Hall, trying his luck on Lily again.
Lily blushed and Hermione could tell that she liked him, too, but the messy-haired Gryffindor was too arrogant for his own good. "No! Never!"
James Potter knelt in front of Lily. "Please? I've been asking you out for two years now..."
"NO! You are an arrogant prat! Hexing Severus just because he spoke to me and we became Potions partner. You think you're famous just because you're now in the Quidditch Team. You keep on raking your hair with your fingers, thinking that it makes you look attractive. I'd rather date Severus Snape than you!" Lily Evans yelled, much to the watching students' amusement.
Hermione scowled and turned to Severus whose eyes widened. He shook his head. "She's crazy."
"Too bad, Lily-flower. Snape's already asked Puckle. Who else will keep him company but the bucktoothed and boring Ravenclaw he calls his best friend?" said Sirius Black arrogantly whose back was on them.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Black for insulting fellow students," came Professor McGonagall's stern voice. The students watching left and moved to the Great Hall. Severus pulled Hermione gently and smirked at Sirius Black and James Potter, but glared at Lily Evans.
"And you, Mr. Potter..."
Hermione was not able to hear what Professor McGonagall told Potter because she and Sev walked briskly to the Great Hall.
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September 29, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
Hogsmeade was beautiful, Hermione decided. The shops and other buildings looked old, but clean and nice. They reminded Hermione of a village from a Muggle movie she watched as a kid about Santa Claus.
She and Severus walked leisurely, arms around each other. Severus was a perfect gentleman. He was already waiting for her outside the Ravenclaw house that morning, wearing a black Oxford shirt and grey trousers. His clothes and trainers looked crisp and clean. And he smelt like a gentle creamy thing - sandalwood.
Hermione, on the other hand, favoured a cashmere blue jumper Mona got her for Christmas, and a pair of Muggle denim trousers. She also wore a blue bonnet cap; Severus's birthday gift last week.
The moment Severus made it to her side, he patted her bonnet-covered head affectionately. "It looks good on you," he complimented.
She smiled at him. "And you look good. No wonder, Lily Evans likes you," she teased.
Severus gave her a disapproving look. "Don't ruin my mood."
They showed their permission slips to Mr. Filch before riding the carriage waiting outside the castle. When they arrived at the village, they visited Tomes and Scrolls first, which was a good decision because they spent more than an hour there. Each of them took three books. When Hermione took the books to the counter to pay for them, Severus stepped in.
"Let me pay for your books," he whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear and neck.
"But Sev, they're expensive," she protested in a low voice.
Severus waved his hand dismissively and met her eyes. "I told you, my grandparents gave me an extra allowance for Hogsmeade shopping. And in the Muggle community, you and your family pay for everything. Let me do this, please?"
Hermione understood where Severus was coming from, so she nodded and squeezed his arm. "Thank you."
He winked at her before paying for the books. The man at the counter offered to shrink their books. She and Sev left the shop with just one brown bag. They passed by Dogweed and Deathcap, a Herbology shop.
"We don't need anything from there, do we?" she asked.
He snorted. "No. Alice Fawley is a very generous gift-giver."
"Let's go to Scrivenshaft's then? I require new quills."
"You shan't be if you had not been chewing the tip of your quills," he shook his head in disapproval.
Hermione just giggled and took his hand, leading the way to the quill shop. After buying new sets of quills, Sev invited her to Honeydukes. they bought a little of everything. Or rather, Severus bought for the two of them. She took five bars of Honeydukes Dark Chocolate, causing her best friend to give her a questioning look.
"For Remus," she whispered and he just nodded. They've read last year, before the end of their second year, that dark chocolates help werewolves boost their mood, especially when taken before the full moon, and it had been proven that they have calming effects.
"Toothflossing Stringmints for Mona," suggested Severus.
Hermione grinned. "I hope she'll like it."
"I think we have enough," said Severus, checking their shopping basket.
"Enough? We have too much!" she exclaimed.
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. "Well, I like spoiling my bossy best friend. You really do smell like marshmallows."
Hermione scowled at him for calling her bossy, but deep inside, her heart was beating faster. He likes my smell.
Her first Hogsmeade trip was wonderful and she could not wait to tell Alice about it. Of course, she'll ask her too how her date with Frank was.
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October 31, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
"Hello, Hermione."
Hermione frowned and looked up from the Artihmancy book she was reading. "Lily," she nodded.
Lily sat on the chair across from her and carefully placed her bag on the desk - Hermione's desk in the library.
She raised an eyebrow as if asking the girl what she wanted. Lily smiled and tossed her hair. "Where's Severus?" she asked.
Her eyebrows rose higher. "Why are you asking?" she asked in a challenging tone.
"Do you think he could help me with my Potions essay? I still need three inches."
"Sev is tutoring the first year Slytherins in their common room," she replied plainly.
"Why?" Lily blurted.
"Because Slytherins stick together," she explained, plain and simple.
"Oh, bugger. I need help with my essay." Lily rested her hand on her head.
Hermione observed her for a moment. Lily looked so stressed. She had dark circles around her eyes and her hair looked rather disheveled. She sighed. "I can help you," she offered.
Lily turned to her, looking surprised. After a moment, the Gryffindor bit her lip and looked hesitant. "No offense, Hermione, but Severus is the best at Potions."
"Maybe in our class," drawled Sev who was now standing behind Lily, making the redhead startle. "But Hermione is as equally as good as me. We study together."
"Sev!" Lily exclaimed, forcing a smile on her reddened face.
"Severus," he corrected and gave Lily an intimidating look.
"Er, right. Severus," Lily stammered. "I was looking for you, wondering if you could - "
"No," was his sharp reply.
Lily frowned. "No? But we're Potions partners!"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "We were partnered only because your partner, McDonald, ended up in the hospital wing. Professor Slughorn knows that I can work without a partner and if Hermione were in our class, she would be my only partner."
Lily looked like she was about to cry. Hermione stood up and took hold of Severus's arm. "Sev," she called gently.
Severus turned to her and sighed. He went to sit beside Hermione's chair. "Still 'no'."
"What did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much?" Lily asked with tears in her eyes, getting the attention of the other students in the library. Thankfully, the librarian was still at lunch, Hermione guessed.
"Lily, Sev doesn't hate you," she said calmly.
"She's right, Evans," drawled Severus. "I don't hate you. I just don't like your attitude."
Lily, still crying silently, stormed out of the library.
Hermione sat back in her chair. "That wasn't nice, Sev."
Severus glared at her. "She isn't nice. I heard what she said to you."
"I'm used to it. But she wants to be friends with you."
Severus snorted. "She doesn't. She only wants my attention because I never bothered talking to her. I never bothered to praise or help her, but I am always concerned when it comes to you and by extension, your friends. She wants to be praised. She wants to be chased, admired and adored by every wizard in Hogwarts. Slytherins don't like her, but they respect you. I care for you. That's why she wants my attention."
Hermione was shocked by Severus's revelation. If she didn't know Lily before their Hogwarts education, she would never believe him. But Severus wouldn't say something like that if it wasn't true. And Lily always wanted to be the center of attention when they were still in Parkland.
"How did you know that?" she whispered, still shocked.
"Slytherins talk. The Shafiq and Yaxley girls have been observing the Gryffindor chit," he sneered.
Hermione sighed. She didn't particularly like Lily's attitude, but she also didn't like hearing negative things about her. She would always think about what Mrs. Evans would think and how she would react if Hermione treated Lily poorly.
"Sev, just... give her a chance, will you?" she asked gently. "Just... try to tolerate her like you tolerate my housemates and Hufflepuff friend?"
"But your housemates and friends aren't attention-seekers and loud like her," he argued.
"Sev, please?" she asked again, with her hands on his arm. "Mrs. Evans defended me many times in Parkland when I performed accidental magic. She was one of the reasons why I held my head high despite not having friends at school. She listened when I cried and complained about my classmates' treatment. I want to repay her by treating Lily well."
Severus frowned. "She's a teacher. It's her job in the first place."
Hermione smiled. "Not all teachers concern themselves with their former students' wellbeing. Please, tolerate Lily? I will never be able to look at Mrs. Evans in the eyes again if I don't do something for Lily while we're here at Hogwarts."
He rolled his eyes. "Why am I ever giving in to your pleas? I don't know."
She giggled and rested her head on his shoulder. "Because you love me."
He snorted. "In your dreams." But he made no move to untangle himself from her.
